Women In Comedy Festival to hand out awards

Thanks to sponsorship from Jason Manford

Manchester’s Women In Comedy Festival will be handing out awards for the first time this year.

Prizes of £500 will be given to both the best show and best new act at October’s event, thanks to sponsorship from Jason Manford and his Manford’s Comedy Clubs.

Director of the festival Jessica Toomey said: ‘We are delighted to be able to finally announce these awards, ones that will recognise and reward the great talent the festival showcases.

‘Yet again we’re bringing another fantastic programme of shows across many fantastic venues in Manchester City Centre and continue to champion and support women in comedy.'

Running from October 3 to 13, the festival, which is now in its 13th year, will host nearly 80 shows across the city.

Shows include a work in progress from Lori Smith – the wife of hugely successful Liverpudlian comic Paul Smrih – who blows the lid on their married life in ChuckleF*cker .

Other highlights include rising New York comic Erin Jackson, Nina Gilligan’s aclaimed show Goldfish, presenter turned comedian Tej Dhutia, Laura Lexx’s tour show Slinky, Rachel Fairburn with a ‘best of’ show, Ola Labib talking about her Sudanese upbringing in Portsmouth in her debut show POLArising.

Full listings are here.

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Published: 29 Aug 2024